Shloka 43

वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्

Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth

Devanagari script

तं समुद्राश् च नद्यश् च रत्नान्य् आदाय सर्वशः तोयानि चाभिषेकार्थं सर्वाण्य् एवोपतस्थिरे

Transliteration

taṃ samudrāś ca nadyaś ca ratnāny ādāya sarvaśaḥ toyāni cābhiṣekārthaṃ sarvāṇy evopatasthire

Translation

Then the oceans and the rivers—from every quarter—came forth to attend him, bearing treasures and sacred waters, all arriving to offer the waters meant for his royal consecration (abhiṣeka).

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• समुद्राः: oceans
• समुद्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• नद्यः: rivers
• नद्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• रत्नानि: gems, treasures
• रत्नानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Sambandha (Gerundial/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having taken)

• सर्वशः: in every way, altogether
• सर्वशः: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम्

• तोयानि: waters
• तोयानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• अभिषेकार्थम्: for the purpose of consecration
• अभिषेकार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (अभिषेकाय अर्थः/प्रयोजनम्)

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karma (Qualifier of object/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (तोयानि-विशेषण)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• उपतस्थिरे: approached, stood near/attended
• उपतस्थिरे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nature itself participates in dharma when rightful authority is established—prosperity and sacredness flow toward the protector of the world.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat governance and leadership as stewardship: align policy and personal conduct with ecological and social welfare, not extraction.

Vishishtadvaita: The world is a real, sacred body of the Lord; honoring waters and earth in dharmic rites reflects reverence for His immanent presence.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Rājadharma (legitimate, welfare-oriented kingship)

Key Kings: Pṛthu (Vainya)

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: dasya

Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi

Characters & Entities

• Oceans
• Rivers
• Ratnas (treasures)

FAQs

What is the significance of oceans and rivers bringing consecration waters in the Vishnu Purana?

It signifies cosmic assent: the natural world itself honors the ruler’s legitimacy, presenting sacred waters and wealth as signs that kingship is aligned with dharma and universal order.

How does Sage Parāśara frame kingship and authority in this verse?

By portraying nature’s elements as attendants at the abhiṣeka, Parāśara presents sovereignty as more than political power—an office ritually and cosmically affirmed within the Purāṇic moral universe.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purāṇic worldview assumes dharmic rulership as sustained by the Supreme Reality (Vishnu); the ordered participation of oceans and rivers reflects that higher, Vishnu-grounded cosmic harmony.